Electrical connector



Filed Aug. 21, i939 Ava/52v 70 v FFfDE/Z/CK 14/. M55010 Patented Nov.19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ApplicationAugust 21,

8 Claims.

This invention relates generallyto connectors adapted for use inmechanically and electrically connecting electrical conductors in theconstruction, repair, and extension of electrical systems such astelephone, telegraph, light, and power lines, and more specifically toconnectors of this general type which are of the well known split bolttype, the predominant object of the invention being to provide animproved connector of the type mentioned which, because of its uniqueconstruction and arrangement, is capable of economical production andeflicient and convenient operation in use.

Fig. l is an end elevation of one of the improved connectors showingsame as it appears when a pair of electrical conductors are beingmaintained in mechanical and electrical connection with the aid of theconnector, the electrical conductors being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a view of the connector and conductor assembly shown in Fig.1, a portion of the connector and the conductors being shown in sideelevation, and another portion of the connector being shown in verticalsection.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section showingthe connector as it appears when the nut and follower assembly thereofis swung aside to open the conductor slots of the split bolt of theconnector for passage of conductors thereinto.

Fig. 4 is a. horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates partly in end elevation and partly in section amodified form of the split bolt of the connector.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5.

In the drawing, wherein are shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, two embodiments of 40 the invention, A designates, in Figs. 1 to4, in-

clusive, the improved connector generally. The connector A includes abolt B of the split type, said bolt being provided with a polygonal headportion 1 from which the shank 2 of the bolt extends. The shank of thebolt is of tubular formation and the circumferential wall of said shankhas formed therein opposed and alined slot-like openings 3 each of whichis open at the outer end of the shank and terminates at the innerportion of the head portion 1 of the bolt in a suitably shaped conductorseat 4. As shown to the best advantage in Fig. 4, the solid portions ofthe circumferential wall of the shank of the bolt B are of arcuateconfiguration and the outer faces of said solid portions are providedwith screwthreads.

The improved connector includes also a nut and follower assembly Ccomprised of a nut 5 and a follower 6, said nut being closed at itslower end by means of a wall 5' as shown in Fig. 2,

1939, Serial No.- 291,112

and, of course, being internally screwthreaded. The follower 5 is in theform of a short tube provided with a bottom wall 6, and at its oppositeor upper end the follower is provided with a pair of alined and opposedarcuate recesses l which provide conductor seats. The nut 5 and thefollower 6 are connected together by means of a rivet 5a (Fig. 2), theswivel connection between said nut and follower provided by said rivetbeing sufficiently loose to permit the nut to rotate with respect to thefollower.

The follower 6 has formed in the wall thereof a slot 8 which is closedat its top and is open at the lower end of the follower 6, a short extension of said slot 8 being extended into the bottom wall 5 of thefollower as shown in Fig. 3. Extended into the slot 8 is a hook-shapedelement 9, said hookshaped element 9 being secured to the shank of thebolt by having its longer leg 9a forced into an aperture formed in thelower portion of the wall of the bolt shank as shown in Fig. 3, and saidelement 9 including in addition to the longer leg mentioned, a portion91) which extends horizontally from the lower end of the longer leg 9a,and an upstanding shorter leg 90.

At the location of the hook-shaped element 9 the lower portion of thebolt shank is provided with an arcuatenotch H) which serves a purpose tobe hereinafter-set forth.

In the operative position of the connector the nut is screwed on theexterior of the shank 2 of the bolt B and the follower, whose externaldiameter is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the boltshank, is extended in a te1escopic manner into the interior of said boltshank as shown in Fig. 2. When the nut and follower assembly C is beingmoved inwardly of the bolt shank to connect a pair of conductors asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the conductors are designated by thereference character D, the nut is rotated to cause it to be screwedinwardly on the exterior of the bolt shank and the follower passesinwardly in a telescopic manner into the interior of said bolt shank.When the bolt and follower assembly have moved the required distance theconductor seats I at the inner end of the follower will contact with theforemost conductor D and continued movement of the nut and followerassembly with respect to the bolt of the connector will causetheconductors to be forced together tightly and be clamped securelybetween the conductor seats 1 of the follower and the conductor seat lof the bolt as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It is to be noted that the hook-shaped element 9 is extended into theslot 8 of the follower at all times and therefore when the nut isrotated relative to the bolt shank as described, the follower is guidedfor straight line movement relative to the bolt shank by said hookshaped member. Thus, the conductor seats 1 of the follower,

during movement of said follower longitudinally of the bolt shank, aremaintained at all times in their proper alined positions with respect tothe conductor seat 4 of the bolt so that the conductors will be engagedand clamped between said conductor seats in the manner previouslydescribed herein.

In addition to serving as a means for guiding the follower for straightline movement as explained above, the hook-shaped element 9 serves alsoas a retaining means for preventing complete detachment of the nut andfollower assembly from the bolt of the connector as shown in Fig. 3.When the nut and follower assembly is engaged by the hook-shaped element9 as shown in Fig. 3 theportion 8' of the follower, which is located atthe inner end of the slot 8 of said follower, is embraced by the lowerportion of said hookshaped member. When so engaged the nut and followerassembly may be swung to one side as shown in Fig. 3, in which positiona portion of the follower is nested in the arcuate notch I0, and theopenings 3 of the bolt shank are opened at their lower ends to receiveconductors to be connected by the connector. When the bolt has beenassembled with the conductors to be connected by the connector, the nutand follower assembly is moved to an alined position with respect to theshank of the bolt and the nut is screwed on the bolt shank to move thefollower inwardly oi the bolt shank to clamp the conductors as has beenpreviously explained herein. Also when the nut is unscrewed from thebolt shank to remove the connector from conductors with which it hasbeen associated, the portion 8' of the follower moves into a positionwhere it is engaged by the hook-shaped member 9 as the nut becomesdisengaged from the shank of the bolt. The nut and follower assembly maythen be swung aside, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit the bolt of theconnector to be removed from the conductors.

In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the bolt of the connector illustrated is ofsuch construction that it may be made in various ways, such, forinstance, on a screw machine. In Figs. 5 and 6, however, a connectorbolt B is shown which may be stamped or drawn from sheet metal. Inconnection with this form of connector bolt a hookshaped element may beprovided in association with the bolt in various ways, for instance, anextension may be formed on the metal which produces the bolt and thisextension may be shaped to produce a hook-shaped member 9' whichcorresponds to the hook-shaped element 9 of Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

' An important feature of the invention is that the follower 6 preventscollapsing of the legs of the bolt 13 when the nut 5 is screwed inwardlyon the shank portion of said bolt to clamp conductors between theconductor seats of the bolt and follower, this result being attainedbecause of the telescopic relation of the bolt and the follower.

I claim:

1. A connector comprising a bolt having a hollow shank provided withopposed openings formed in the wall thereof and alined transversely ofthe bolt, the wall portions of the hollow shank of said bolt at oppositesides of said openings being of arcuate shape and of substantiallyconstant thickness throughout, said openings being open at an end of thebolt shank and terminating at their opposite ends in conductor seats,and a nut and follower assembly which includes a nut adapted to bescrewed externally on the bolt shank and a follower which is adapted tomove with the nut when said nut is screwed on the bolt shank within theinterior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposed openings thereofto clamp a conductor between a portion of said follower and theconductor seats of said openings of the bolt shank, the outer surface ofsaid follower being curved in substantial accordance with the curvatureof the inner faces of the arcuate wall portions of the shank of saidbolt.

2. A connector comprising a bolt having a hollow shank provided withopposed openings formed in the wall thereof and alined transversely ofthe bolt, the wall portions of the hollow shank of said bolt at oppositesides of said openings being of arcuate shape and of substantiallyconstant thickness throughout, said openings being open at an end of thebolt shank and terminating at their opposite ends in conductor seats,and a nut and follower assembly which includes a nut adapted to bescrewed externally on the bolt shank and a follower which is adapted tomove with the nut when said nut is screwed on the bolt shank within theinterior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposed openings thereofto clamp a conductor between a portion of said follower and theconductor seats of said openings of the bolt shank, the outer surface ofsaid follower being curved in substantial accordance with the curvatureof the inner faces of the arcuate wall portions of the shank of saidbolt, and means for connecting said nut and follower so that the nut mayrotate with respect to said follower.

3. A connector comprising a bolt having a hollow shank provided withopposed openings formed in the wall thereof and alined transversely ofthe bolt, the wall portions of the hollow shank of said bolt at oppositesides of said openings being of arcuate shape and of substantiallyconstant thickness throughout, said openings being open at an end of thebolt shank and terminating at their opposite ends in conductor seats, anut and follower assembly which includes a nut adapted to be screwedexternally on the bolt shank and a follower which is adapted to movewith the nut when said nut is screwed onthe bolt shank within theinterior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposed openings thereofto clamp a conductor between a portion of said follower and theconductor seats of said openings of the bolt shank, the outer surface ofsaid follower being curved in substantial accordance with the curvatureof the inner faces of the arcuate wall portions of the shank of saidbolt, swivel means for connecting said nut and follower so that the nutmay rotate with respect to said follower, and means for guiding saidfollower for straight line movement relative to said bolt shank whilesaid nut is rotated to screw it on the bolt shank.

4. A connector comprising a bolt having a hollow shank provided withopposed openings formed in the wall thereof and alined transversely ofthe bolt, the wall portions of the hollow shank of said bolt at oppositesides of said openings being of arcuate shape and of substantiallyconstant thickness throughout, said openings being open at an end of thebolt shank and terminating at their opposite ends in conductor seats, anut and follower assembly which includes a nut adapted to be screwedexternally on the bolt shank and a follower which is adapted to movewith the nut when said nut is screwed on the bolt shank within theinterior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposed openings thereofto clampa conductor between a portion of said follower and the conductorseats of said openings of the bolt shank, the outer surface of saidfollower being curved in substantial accordance with the curvature ofthe inner faces of the arouate wall portions of the shank of said bolt,swivel means for connecting said nut and follower so that the nut mayrotate with respect to said follower, and means supported by the boltshank for guiding said follower for straight line movement relative tosaid bolt shank while said nut is rotated to screw it on the bolt shank,said means for guiding the follower for straight line movement beingadapted to engage a portion of said nut and follower assembly as the nutthereof is removed from the bolt shank to prevent complete detachment ofthe nut and follower assembly from the bolt of the connector.

5. A connector comprising a bolt having a hollow shank provided withopposed openings formed in the wall thereof and alined transversely ofthe bolt, the wall portions of the hollow shank of said bolt at oppositesides of said openings being of arcuate shape and of substantiallyconstant thickness throughout, said openings being open at an end of thebolt shank and terminating at their opposite ends in conductor seats, anut and follower assembly which includes a nut adapted to be screwedexternally on the bolt shank and a follower which is adapted to movewith the nut when said nut is screwed on the bolt shank within theinterior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposed openings thereofto clamp a conductor between a portion of said follower and theconductor seats of said openings of the bolt shank, the outer surface ofsaid follower being curved in substantial accordance with the curvatureof the inner faces of the arcuate wall portions of the shank of saidbolt, swivel means for connecting said nut and follower so that the nutmay rotate with respect to said follower, and means supported by thebolt shank for guiding said follower for straight line movement relativeto said bolt shank while said nut is rotated to screw it on the boltshank, said means for guiding the follower for straight line movementbeing in the form of a, hook-shaped element adapted to engage a portionof said nut and follower assembly as the nut thereof is removed from thebolt shank to prevent complete detachment of the nut and followerassembly from the bolt of the connector.

6. A connector comprising a. bolt having a hollow shank provided withopposed openings formed in the wall thereof and alined trans-' verselyof the bolt, the wall portions of the hollow shank of said bolt atopposite sides of said openings being of arcuate shape and ofsubstantially constant thickness throughout, said openings being open atan end of the bolt shank and terminating at their opposite ends inconductor seats, a nut and follower assembly which includes a nutadapted to be screwed externally on the bolt shank and a follower whichis adapted to move with the nut when said nut is screwed on the boltshank within the interior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposedopenings thereof to clamp a conductor between a portion of said followerand the conductor seats of said openings of the bolt shank, the outersurface of said follower being curved in substantial accordance with thecurvature of the inner faces of the arouate wall portions of the shankof said bolt, swivel means for connecting said nut and follower so thatthe nut may rotate with respect to said follower, and means supported bythe bolt shank for guiding said follower for straight line movementrelative to said bolt shank while said nut is rotated to screw it on thebolt shank, said means for guiding the follower for straight linemovement being in the form of a hook-shaped element adapted to looselyengage a portion of said nut and follower assembly as the nut thereof isremoved from the bolt shank to prevent, complete detachment of the nutand follower assembly from the bolt of the connector yet permit the nutand follower assembly to be swung transversely away from the end of saidbolt shank at which the openings thereof are open.

7. A connector comprising a bolt having a tubular shank provided withopposed openings formed in the wall thereof and alined transversely ofthe bolt, said openings being open at an end of the bolt shank andterminating at their opposite ends in conductor seats, a nut andfollower assembly which includes a nut adapted to be screwed externallyon the bolt shank and a follower in the form of a tubular element whichis adapted to move with the nut when said nut is screwed on the boltshank within the interior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposedopenings thereof to clamp a conductor between a. portion of saidfollower and the conductor seats of said openings of the bolt shank,swivel means for connecting said nut and follower so that the nut mayrotate with respect to said follower, and means supported by said boltshank for guiding said follower for straight line movement relative tosaid bolt shank while the nut is rotated to screw it on the bolt shank,said means for guiding the follower for straight line movementcomprising an element which is extended into a slot formed in saidfollower.

8. A connector comprising a bolt having a tubular shank provided withopposed openings formed in the Wall thereof and alined transversely ofthe bolt, said openings being open at an end of the bolt shank andterminating at their opposite ends in conductor seats, a nut andfollower assembly which includes a nut adapted to be screwed externallyon the bolt shank and a follower in the form of a tubular element whichis adapted to move with the nut when said nut is screwed on the boltshank within the interior of the bolt shank and inwardly of the opposedopenings thereof to clamp a conductor between a portion of said followerand the conductor seats of said openings of the bolt shank, swivel meansfor connecting said nut and follower so that the nut may rotate withrespect to said follower, and means supported by said bolt shank forguiding said follower for straight line movement relative to said boltshank while the nut is rotated to screw it on the bolt shank, said meansfor guiding the follower for straight line movement comprising anelement which is extended into a slot formed in said follower and whichincludes a FREDERICK W. MEBOLD.

